Call to the pen
Fansided

Boston Red Sox outfield of the future ran out of time

By David Hill

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 17: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox, Jackie Bradley Jr. #19 of the Boston Red Sox and Andrew Benintendi #16 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate in the outfield after the victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on July 17, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 17: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox, Jackie Bradley Jr. #19 of the Boston Red Sox and Andrew Benintendi #16 of the Boston Red Sox celebrate in the outfield after the victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on July 17, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Back in 2018, the Boston Red Sox were on top of the baseball world. They had just won the World Series, their fourth of the 2000s, and had an impressive core for their roster. Their outfield, in particular, was a strength, with Jackie Bradley Jr., Mookie Betts, and Andrew Benintendi ready to lead the team into the next decade.

Now that the 2021 season is about to get underway, that outfield of the future is no more. Betts was sent to the Dodgers to get Los Angeles to take on David Price. Benintendi was sent to the Royals as the Red Sox ran out of patience. And Bradley has departed in free agency, signing a two year deal with the Brewers on Thursday.

Boston Red Sox outfield of future is no more

That trio was supposed to be exactly what the Red Sox needed. Betts was the new Boston superstar, a homegrown talent who is arguably the best player in baseball. Benintendi was expected to develop into the type of player that would be able to contend for the batting title year in and year out. Bradley is a Gold Glove outfielder, someone whose very presence made the pitching staff better.

More Red Sox. Snell takes back thank you. light

And now that Bradley has signed elsewhere, that trio has all officially departed. In their place, the Red Sox a probable starting outfield of Hunter Renfroe, Alex Verdugo, and Franchy Cordero. While this outfield alignment has potential, they are not nearly in the same caliber as what the Red Sox had even two years ago.

Times change. Players that were expected to be a key part of the future will simply not pan out as hoped. Others will depart in free agency or be sent elsewhere. But it is different when those are conscious decisions made to save a few shekels, especially when those moves are made by one of the richer teams in the game.

In theory, the Red Sox could have kept this outfield together. Betts and Bradley are still in their primes. Benintendi may not have been the future batting champion he was expected to be, but he is still a solid outfielder. But the Red Sox’ Killer ‘B’s in the outfield are no more.

Next. Varitek keeping his number. dark

The Boston Red Sox had their outfield of the present and future in place. Unfortunately, they ran out of time.

Home/Boston Red Sox